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MLB Picks

MLB Picks: Pirates vs. Cardinals NLDS Game 5

The Pittsburgh Pirates and St. Louis Cardinals will close out their best-of-five series Wednesday night, as both teams are trying to earn the right to face the Los Angeles Dodgers in the next round of the MLB postseason.

Let’s take a closer look at the pro baseball odds for Game 5 of
the 2013 National League Division Series at Busch Stadium, with the first pitch
scheduled for 8:07 p.m. ET on TBS.

Back on the road

Pittsburgh was unable to close out St. Louis in Game 4, as it
suffered a 2-1 loss as +105 home underdogs at most baseball books, while going UNDER the betting total
for the first time in the series.

The Pirates are 10-6 as road underdogs of +125 to +150 since the
start of the regular season, with the OVER going 9-7 in that situation.

Been here before

St. Louis is now 7-1 over the last three years when facing
postseason elimination, which can’t be ignored when making your sports picks in
this affair, but it’s important to point out that the club is hitting just .192
through four games of this series.

The Cardinals have won all four of their previous Division Series
when possessing home-field advantage, while they’ve gone 19-9 as favorites of
-150 to -175 at this venue in 2013.

Cole

Pirates starting pitcher Gerrit Cole (10-7, 3.22 ERA) has won his
last five outings dating back to the regular season, including a 7-1 road
victory over the Cardinals in Game 2, as the allowed one run and two hits over
six frames.

The right-hander was 4-2 with a 2.38 ERA in seven road outings
before the postseason, issuing eight walks and striking out 42 batters in 45.1
combined frames.

Cole will be making his second career appearance against St. Louis
in this win-or-go home affair.

Cardinals starting pitcher Adam Wainwright (19-9, 2.94 ERA) opened
up this series with a 9-1 home victory over the Pirates last Thursday, as he
surrendered a single run and three hits over seven innings of work.

The right-hander was 9-6 with a 2.53 ERA in 17 home outings during
the regular season, issuing 20 walks and striking out 114 batters in 121
combined frames.